Cigarette case



Sept. 22, 1936- c. P. SHAW ET Al.

CIGARETTE CASE Filed Deo. 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22, 1936- c. P. sHAwET Al.`

CIGARETTE CASE VFiled Deo. 27, v1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cifre/577.4 PSI/Aw," AL afer C. )Mum/006A,

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE CASE Christian PfShaw and Albert Waldvogel, St.

Louis, Mo., assignors to Kriss KrossfUorpora f tion, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation Y Y Application December 27, 1932, Serial No. 648,880 v 13 Claims.

This invention pertains to cigarette cases and `more particularly to that type of case which has vcombined therewith a cigarette lighter andV means `for ejecting acigarette and positioning the same to be lighted by the lighter.

One of the objects o-f this invention is to provide a cigarette case dwithmeans whereby a cigarette may be partially ejected therefrom and po- `fsiti'oned :tobe lighted by the lighter in a simple and convenient manner.

Another object is to provide automatic -means whereby thepositioning eof the cigarette and the operation of the igniter may be accomplished .by `a singleoperation.

Another `object is to provide improved igniter mechanism for the lighter..

Another object is to provide means whereby the flame of the igniter will be conned to .the cigarette to .be lighted and an adjacent cigarette in the holder will be .guarded from the action of the flame. I

Another object is to provide improved means for feeding cigarettes along the holder.

Further objects `will appear fromthe following Vdescription taken .in connection withthe .accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a cigarette case .embodying this invention shown with the cover open:

Figure 2 is a left edge view of Figure 1, but with the cover closed;

Figure 31is'a section taken on rline.3-3 of Figure 4; 'i

Figure 4 is a partial vertical section taken about online `lI-4` of Figure .2;

Figure 5 is a detail section taken onlineSS-S 4of yFigure 4; I

'another embodiment of `this invention;

Figure 8 is a front view partly in section illus- "trating 4the embodiment of Figure 7; Vand Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective detail of the fuel tan'k'mounting. v Referring to the drawings I designates a casingadapted to house a .cigarette holder `2 and a lighter indicated generallyby the `reference numoral '-Ilhe cigarette holderZ is hinged at 4 to the casing I .and is provided with 4turned-over yflanges 5 adapted to receive and guide the cigarettes-whichare placedfside by side therein. The back plate of the holder 2 is provided with Vtwo series of alinedperforations-s-.Bproviding racksex- (Cl. 20G-41.4)

tending `along theholder i-n direction of the feed of cigarettes. The cigarettes are fed .along the guide iianges4 5 by a follower 1 whose ends 8, bent at righi-.angles tovfollo-wer l, are also guided Aby grooves in the flanges 5. These ends also `prevent `5 itippingof the `follower andassst in maintaining its alin-ement. The follower 'lhas journalled therein a shaft -9 having fixed thereto at each end a pinion Hlengaging one of the racks 6. The shaft 9 isrotated by a spring II securedat one end to the shaft and at the other -end to the follower 1. This .spring provides a motor adapted todrive the shaft 9 and the pinions I- 0 so as to .move the `follower I by engagement -with the `racks .6. v I

The length and tension of the `spring .II are `adjusted so as to transmita substantially `uniform pressureon` the end cigarette regardless of the number-of cigarettes Lin the holder. In .other words, the` rate of increase in spring tension as 20 the .follower is pressed back is just `enough to take :care of :theincreased `friction `of the additional cigarettes., This arrangement reduces .the tendency .of rthe stack of cigarettes `to buckle in the holder. Thus the pinions I0, being fixed tothe shaft 9, aredriyenequally .along `the racks and accord- .ingly the follower 1 is controlled so `as to maintain parallel relation with its normal or initial position. 'Ifherfollower 1 is provided on the `underside of its top -iiange with a shortpin I2 adapted for engagement in a perforation I3 in a :spring Acatch fI4 mounted at -the end of :the casing I adjacent the hinge 4. When the follower ,'I -is pulled -allV the'way down in `Figure -1 the pin-I2 "35 may ,be made to engage Ain `the .perforation I3 so as to -retain -the follower in 4this retracted position against the tension ofthe spring motor `I I This makes it convenient to hold the `fol- ;loWer out of the way `while inserting cigarettes -in the holder `2. The catch Hl `is-provided with a button .I5 adapted to be `engaged `by the cover -I6 -of the casing iwhen closed.` Such engagement .causesjthecover `to depress Ithe catch I4 vso as to `clisengage theperforation/I3 from the I pin I2 V,45 thereby releasing the `follower 1 for movement to Yfeed the cigarettes.` Suitable stops `Ii'I may be .,'provided to prevent 'the vfollower from being fed Yclear-out of the holder. Y

-Betweenfthe holder -,-2 .and the back `of the 50 casing fI'in the lower part 1of fthe `casing acom- -pantment A|00 isHformedf-which may be used ,for `storing extra cigarettesor .for #holding a ladys compact for fthe v-like. This `compartment is 41quicklyfa ccessible-by moving .the hinged shOIder ,2. L55

vinsertion in the fuel tank of a new wick. Thev tank is provided with an auxiliary opening closed Y by a suitable plug 24, Figure u4, said opening being placed on the opposite side of the tank from Y the fitting 2I so that the ins4ertion vvof a new wick may be facilitated by means of a suitable implement inserted through the opening at 24 so as to draw the wick into the tank.'

The support I8 is provided with ,janangular recesslll and the fuel tank is provided on its fiatside with a projecing portion I901fitting said "recessjand projecting thereinto.

n These intertting parts serve to lposition' the fuel tank and s wicktube accurately inV proper relationto the g' Y'lfhejfuel'tank I9 is provided with a laterally i projecting portion v25 `on which the tting 2| is .-r'hounted. There is also mounted on the projec- `tion' 25a Slo-called flint'tube 26 adapted to receive 'astick'of pyrophoric material 21. A spring 28j supported infanysuitable mannerY forces the end'of'the stick 21 vagainst ,al toothed wheel 29.

The wheel 29 is journalledv on a pin 30 mounted @in the support I8; The wheel 29 has Yfixed there Yto a ratchet wheel 3l engaged by a spring pawl r32 mountedon a bracket 33. VThe bracket 33 is Y'manipulating button 46.

ladapted to close the slot 41 in the casing I profxed totheinsi'de of av capf34 pivoted on the pin '3` and tensioned by a spring-35 whose other end I is secured Aat a suitable point'on the support I8.

lateralfnotch adaptedV to receive the reduced `neck portion'31 of a -snuffer38. 'I'he snuffer 38 vhasna hollow endadapted to t over and seat Aupon the wicktube 22 as illustrated in Figure 4.

The bracket3,3`has an arm 36 provided with a The reduced neckgportion 31 is a loose fit in the Ynoiuzhvof the arm 376 and the head 39 of the "snuifer `is pressed downwardly by a spring 4I) secured to the bracket 33. VThe spring holds the snuierV yieldingly in place while permitting uni- ;versal movement of the stuffer so as to aline itself to a propery seat on the wick tube 22.

v'-Ihe support VI6 is provided with a transverse `plate or flang'f'e' 4I provided with a' longitudinal slot42. -An ejector 43 is arranged to slide on the plate 4I and has its end portion bent back upon itself at V44 to provide a guard 45 carrying a The Vguard 45 is 'vided for the 'movement'of the button 46. The

ejector 43 has its other end bent downwardly at 48 to pass through the slot 42 in the plate 4I and provided-belovvfsaid lplate with an abutment 49 adaptedto engage the end of a cigarette 50 to be ejected. The abutment 4911's provided with perforation 5I 'through which the fia'me of the lighter'may-reacn' the cigarette as willbe more fully explained later.` The abutment 49 is formed with side and rearwalls-52 rand 53 so as to provide an enclosed passage for the` flame ofthe igniter to passi-through, theY rear Awall 52 providing a guard forfthe yadjacent cigarette as shown in Figure 5. '-The'movement of the ejector is such as to carry the' abutment 49 to such a position that this giiame `passagefis positioned'opposite an opening 54 'inthe support I8. iAThis opening is Vpositioned `wick 23. the cap '34 not only carries the snuier clear of opposite the point at which the ame of the igniter will be produced so that by inhaling on the ejected cigarette the ame will be drawn through the opening 54 and the ame guide formed by the abutment 49 and through the perforation 5Il so as to light the cigarette. The perforation 5Ilv acts to localize the flame in the center of the end of the cigarette and to Vavoid igniting the side portions of rthe cigarette.

The ejector 43 is provided with a post 55 to ,-which is attached a spring 56 whose other end is attached at 51 to the support I8. This spring serves to retract the ejector to a position to clear a cigarette moving from the holder. Slidably mounted in suitable supports 58 on the support I8 a'latch pin 59. This pin is tensioned by spring 64 engaging an upset portion 6I. on the pin so as "to retain the protruding end 62 of thev pin in latching engagement with a suitable perforation in the cap 34. Slidably mounted on the pin 59 is a member `63 pivoted at 64 toone arni of the latch vmember 65, said latch member'being pivoted at 66 on the plate 4I of the support I8. AS will be seen-Y from Figures 3 and 4 that portion of the member 63 which'Y surrounds the pin 59 extends through -a perforationfin a transverse vwall 61 Vof the casing I so as to abut against the endwall of the cap 34, said cap being movable in a recess in the casing I formed by the transverse wall 61 and a wall 68 at right angles thereto. spring 69 surrounds'the pin 59 and bears at one endlagainst one of the supports 58 and at the other end against" the member 63. This spring acts through the member 63 to maintain the latch member 65 in the'position for latching engagement with a lug 1D on the ejector 43 when the latter is moved to the right, Figure 3. The pin 59 has its right-hand end, Figure 6, bent over and flattened to provide an arm 1I positioned to be engagedby an outwardly projecting lug 12 on the ejector.

The operations: performed in ejecting and lighting the cigarette are as follows. The follower 1 urges the cigarettes upwardly, Figure 1, yagainst theplate 4I, the last cigarette being positioned in front of but clear of the abutment 49. The'operator moves the button 46 in the direcltion indicated by the arrow in Figure l against the tension of the spring 56. The ejector is `moved until at the end of its strokel the lug 12 engages the arm 1I and further movement then' retracts the-pin 59. As this movement is completed the latch drops behind the lug 1I), as indicated in dotted lines,.Figure 3, so as to retain the ejector in this position. During this movement the abutment 49 has forced the first cigarette 59 out through an opening 13 in the casing .I and has positioned-the end of the cigarette adjacent the opening 54. The withdrawal ofthe -pin V 59 at the end ofthe ejector movement releases thecap 34 which is tensioned by the spring 35 -for rotation about the pin 30. When released the cap 34 executes a quick rotary movement caring with it the toothed wheel 29 by virtue of the engagement of the pawl 32 with the ratchet I wheel 3I. Y Rotation of the wheel 29 over the end of the pyrophoric stick 21 produces ashower of sparks directed so asto ignite the end of the It will be noted that this movement of the wick, but opens theside of the casing to the atmosphere so that plenty of air is provided for the flame which is positioned directly opposite the opening 54. 7'

The lips are now applied to the protruding end` llthefopennig 13. ""I1h`e1operatc 4"cap 34 about 'Uthe n t y position mniscarries ne srirferse-ecwnsonlthe ferated to ieicpeliaficigarette partfly ffrornfthe cas ing without foperatingtthe flighter. fFor y'tlii'szpuripose :.-irt is -nnlysnecessary to stop the movement `Irifthe 'Fbutton 46""beforeafthe lighter'is operated.

v yllhfisis VF'convenient TWhen one 'lwi'shes tto I' dispense :cigarettes'to severalffrienda formvhichpurposetne :ejector nmay be operated to project :ra :cigarette Ifrom the casing which ffisfthen lhanded to the -rothen ewho #may :grasp fand withdraw 1 the '.ipro- 35 ejected .cigarette .The frepeated'ioperation of 'the lighter ffandaccompanying .':waste :of iIfuel are f-nismfis .fsimilar tto :that .'alreazdyfdescribed, .fexcept ita@ w that afmod-iedformof e-jectorfisfprovided. -The -ej ector slide =43 'has aan :abutment =14 which pro- .jects downwardlyitlnfoughethe slot r42, as in i the previous embodiment. 4"videdvvitl-i aiperforation 5|=as intheconstruction g5 --desc-ribedabove. Mounted to slide yon i ,the -mem- -ber43-is Ha .loose .plate 1:5 Whichfhas aqnember "1.6 ...projecting rthrough Vtheslot 42 andalying behind the member 314. Thefouts'ide -edges of "the members '1'4 y. and "T6 are 4bent toward each `other `,50 as 'indicated at"1'1. v'Theseparts are `dimensioned vso as'to telescope one vv/ithin"`the other, as indicatedfin .dotted linesiin Figures "7 'and "8. JThe plate "15 "thas aperfcration 18 'throughiwhich the post "projects and wliich'icoop'erates Hwith said @-55 posti'to `guide the sliding movement 'oftheip'late 15. The lengthwise dimension of this perforation is "also 'such'as to limitthe extent of movementpf "'theplate'15iwith'reference to the plate 43. The upstanding lug 12 is in this instance formed on the plate 15.

up a minimum of space so that the width of the casing I, as shown in Figure 1, may be reduced. When the ejector is moved to the left, Figure 8, in order to eject a cigarette the abutment 14 moves the cigarette, as previously described, for

the abutment 49. At the limit of movement of the ejector the lug 12cm-gages the arm 1|, as previously described, so as to Withdraw the pin 59. It will be noted that since the plate 15 is loo-se on the plate 43, engagement of the lug 12 with the arm 1| will hold the plate 15 while the plate vlto *protect lthe lfollovt'fing lc' pointed fout. lAfter igniti-n'gfand fremoving @the The abutment ,141 is vsproseparate the parts-1c and-15,the1ug 12 wiilfrnove dtted-lineslin Figure lips. cap-"34 may th'en be closedwi'th the 'index' 'finger ofthesame" hand 'and when so fclosed (the feject'o'reis `retorted-toiits Loriginal position and 'fa new cigarette `rmoved into position i to be ejected. d It will be noted that the possibilityfof "handling all of these operations 'with one hand *makesit possiblefor.thedriver of an auto'mo- 'conveniently fvvhil'e at'the `saine 'time xkeeping one hand onfthefiwheel i It `Wi1l be 'nted further that the structure is fsuchaslto ber certain inits foperation'and so as tof be easily clean`ed'and reipairedf V `Wfl/"hilefthis invention hasbeen described-hs 'emout reference 'to other feat'ures, or-'th'e 'Trest of `-th'epOinbinati'on.' TIt is understood thatf'the er'npl'yment'of -""su`ch findividual'eatures, 'or subcombinations of features is contemplated hy this in- "tvention hand L'Within the flscp'ef of the dappended ciali-ms. lItisffurther obvio'us thatvariou's changes "iiay he made, Within `the` scope 'f the Lappended 1 latini the details o`f construction-Withoutde- "partingiromthefspit off-this invention; itfisto be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the specc details shown and/or described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A cigarette case, comprising, a cigarette holder, an igniter, means for moving a cigarette from said holder to a position to be ignited by said igniter, and a ame guide providing an enclosed flame passage from said igniter to the moved cigarette.

2. A cigarette case, comprising, a cigarette holder, an igniter, means for moving a cigarette from said holder to a position to be ignited by said igniter, means for controlling the draft inhaled through the positioned cigarette to guide the ame of said igniter to the vend of the cigasaid igniter, and a collapsibleY flue adapted to stantially uniform tension on the end cigarette in 'the holder. Y Y A .Y 3

' 7. A combined cigarette case lighter and ejec-Y conduct the flame from said igniter to the endof Vthe positioned cigarette, said flue being expan- Vsible to provide adequate combustion space for the flame. Y

, 4. In a cigarette case, a cigarette holder provided with means to permit removal of the cigarettes therefrom one at a time, a follower adapted to Yfeed thecigarettes along said holder, and propelling means at-both ends of said follower .connected to positively feedV both ends thereof equally so as to maintain parallel relation with the normal position of the cigarettes.

5. In a cigarette case, a cigarette holder provided with means to permit removal of the-cigarettes therefrom one at a time, a follower adapted to feed the cigarettes along said holder,vracks on said holder adjacent the ends of said follower, pinions on said follower engaging said racks, and

rmeans for driving said pinions equally.

6. In a cigarette case, a cigarette holder pro- 1 vided with means to permit removal of the cigarettes therefrom one at a time, a follower adapted to feed the cigarettes along said holder, propelling means at both ends of said followerV connected topositively feedrboth ends thereof equal- 1y so asV tdmaintainparallel relation withA the normal position of the cigarettes, and means Vfor driving said followerV adapted to provide a subtor, consisting of a case provided with an opening in alinement with the ejector, a magazine for holding a plurality of cigarettes, a guide for feeding the cigarettes to the ejector, means for maintaining the longitudinal, alinement of the cigarettes to be fed one by one to the ejector to take the place of the one ejected and removed, an

. ignition means, means for ejecting cigarettes oneV byone, said means cooperating to eject a cigarette and light the'ignition means for eecting the ignition of the exposed cigarette kand. means for controlling and directing the flame of the ignition means to the exposed cigarettev and to prevent the ignition of the `successive cigarettes in Vthe magazine.

between said operating means and said lighter adapted'for operating engagement after the iniv-tial ejection'of a cigarette by said ejector.

9. A cigarette case, comprising, a casing, a wick lighter associated therewith, an ejector movable to eject a cigarette from said casing and position the same in partlyexpelled position and for igni` tion by said'lighter, operating means for said ejector', means for actuating said lighter, Y and means positionedrat the end of the so positioned cigarette adapted to protect the following cigarette in saidcasing from the flame of said lighter.

10. A cigarettel case, comprising, a casing, a rwick lighter associated therewith,lan ejector movable Vto eject a cigarette from said casing and position the same in partly expelled position and for ignitionl by said lighter, operating means for said ejector, means for actuating said lighter, and means positioned at the endof the so positioned lcigarette providing an enclosed flame passage. Vfrom said lighter to the. end

of the ejected cigarette.

1,1. Avcigarette case, comprising, a cigarette holden'an ejector movable'to eject a cigarette from said holder, a lighter normally tensioned for operation, Vmeans for feeding the cigarettes in said holder into the path of said ejector, means Vfor releasing said lighter for operation, and an Velement normally spaced from said Vreleasing means and connected for movement -upon operation of-said ejector to engage and operatezsaid releasingpmeans afterejection of the cigarette.

l2. A cigarette case, Ycomprising a cigarette vholder, an ejector movable to eject av cigarette from said holder, a lighter normally tensioned for operation, means for feeding the cigarettes in said holder into the path of said ejector, means for releasing said lighter for operation, an actuatOr for said releasing means, and an abutment normally spaced from said actuator and connected for movement upon operation of said ejector to engage said actuator after ejection of the cigarettef Y 13. A cigarette case, comprising a cigarette holder, an ejector movable to leject a cigarette from said holder, a lighter normally tensioned for operation, means for feeding the cigarettes in said holder into the path of said ejector, means for releasingrsaid lightertfor operation, an Yactuator for said releasing means, and an abutment normally spaced from said actuator and connected for movement upon loperation of said ejector'tofengage said actuator after ejection of the cigarette, and tension means for returning vsaid ejector.

` CHRISTIAN P. SHAW.

ALBERT C. WALDVOGEL. 

